Mail-box.



THOlVIAS B. HYATT, OF CONNELLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BOX.

Application filed March 14, 1913.

1' h old whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, THOMAS B. IIYATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gonnellsville, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Mail-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of mail box.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mail box which is to be used for the delivering and receiving of mail and is to be used in connection with private residences or dwellings.

Briefly, the invention comprises a frame with a shutter rotatably mounted therein. The upper inner portion of the said shutter has secured thereto a box for the reception of mail matter. The lower port-ion of the frame is provided with flanges or wings so that when the shutter is rotated about its axis a suitable opening is provided whereby mail matter may be inserted therethrough, the flanges or wings rendering it impossible for the person delivering the mail to see within the building.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the preferable form of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved mail box.- Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 is a frame adapted to be secured to a door or similar structure, the said structure first being provided with a suitable opening therein which is slightly larger than the opening described by the frame. To the lower side portions of the frame 1 and upon the inner periphery thereof are the rearwardly extending flanges or wings 2 preferably triangular in outline and are provided at their rear lower portions with the bar 3,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 145,1913.

Serial No. 754,325.

the purpose of which is to provide a stop to thereby limit the movement of the body or shutter of the mail box.

The shutter or body of the mail box is formed of a flat rectangular plate 4 mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis by means of the trunnions or stub shafts 5, the said trunnions fitting in suitable bearings provided therefor upon the side portions of the frame. To the upper rear portion of the plate 4; is formed a mail receiving receptacle composed of the side walls 6, the rear wall 7 and the bottom 8. The mail delivering receptacle so formed is adapted to normally lie within the building and within which is placed mail matter which is to be delivered to the postman. lVhen the rectangular plate 4t is rotated about its transverse axis as illustrated in Fig. 1, the mail delivering pocket or receptacle is rendered accessible from the outside. When the plate 4 is rotated to the position as illustrated in Fig. l and the mail containing receptacle brought forward and accessible to one positioned outside of the building to which the frame 1 is secured the lower portion of the said plate or shutter 4 is rotated inwardly with the result that a suitable opening 9 is ex posed through which mail may be delivered to the inner portion of the building. The wings 2 between which the lower portion of the plate 4 moves provide that the inner portion of the building will not be visible to the person delivering the mail. By reason of the stop 3 positioned upon the rear portion of the triangular wings 2 the rotation of the plate is limited in one direction to the position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In order that unauthorized people may not tamper with the mail box as described, a suitable lock 10 is provided upon the plate or shutter 4 and this look cooperates with the fastening means 11 secured to the side of the frame to maintain the body of the mail box in a closed position.

From the foregoing it will be apparentthat the improved mail box as herein described is adapted to form a means whereby mail may be suitably introduced to the interior of a building as well as providing a receptacle for the containing of the mail therein which is to be delivered to the mail. man. Furthermore, by the lock 10 secured thereto, the entire device is secured against unauthorized persons tampering therewith.

The construction of the box is simple and the cost of manufacture therefore small. The entire structure may be made of a neat and attractive design which will add materially to the appearance of the door or wall upon which the device is installed. The rearwardly projecting wings insure that the interior of the building will at no time be exposed and the stop 3 secured to the rear portion thereof limits the rotation of the body or shutter in a suitable and proper manner. The postman in delivering mail to the residence unlocks the rotating plate and pushes the lower portion thereof inwardly with the result that the opening 9 is exposed and the mail dropped therethrough. At the same time that the lower portion of the plate is pushed inwardly the mail containing receptacle is rotated outwardly and exposed to the view of the postman for his collection thereof. Nhen the plate is in a closed position it lies flush with the outer portion of the frame to which it fits in a snug manner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and original is A mail delivering and receiving device comprising a frame adapted to fit flush with a supporting surface, rearwardly projecting wings at the lower extremities of the sides of the frame, a flat plate, trunnions extending therefrom and pivotally engaging the sides of the said frame and mounting the said plate for rotation, a receptacle formed upon the rear upper portion of the said plate, said plate when rotated in one direction exposing the receptacle and providing an opening at the lower portion of the frame defined by the front wall of the frame, the two wings, and the said plate, and a bar extending between the lower extremities of said wings adapted to limit the rotation of said plate in one direction, and a lock for limiting the rotation of the said plate in the opposite direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS B. HYATT.

Witnesses MARGARET HYATT, HELEN HYATT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

